Impact  

Between 2020-2025, we collected and analyzed data using validated assessment tools developed by researchers and public health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). These tools measured mental health, physical pain, emotional regulation, and overall wellbeing among participants living in under-resourced zip codes.

We focused on both assessment outcomes and lived experience, allowing us to evaluate not only symptom change but also engagement, trust, and sustainability of care.

Therapeutic Touch Improves Mental Health and Reduces Pain

Our findings demonstrate that Therapeutic Touch is effective in restoring and supporting mental health, with even stronger outcomes when combined with counseling and education. Participants showed measurable reductions in anxiety and physical pain, along with improvements in emotional balance, resilience, and overall quality of life.

These results suggest that Therapeutic Touch engages both physiological and psychological pathways involved in healing, making it a valuable complement to comprehensive and integrative clinical care.

Education, Empowerment, and Trauma Awareness

Beyond symptom relief, our model prioritizes empowerment and long-term sustainability. Participants gained practical, hands-on skills to support self-care at home, increasing autonomy while reducing reliance on clinical settings.

A core element of our approach is increasing awareness of the impact of trauma on physical and mental health. By helping individuals understand the connections between past experiences, stress responses, and bodily symptoms, the model promotes informed and compassionate awareness. Participants reported greater insight into how trauma is held in the body and how therapeutic touch can support regulation and healing.

Community-Based Engagement and Trust Building

Our data highlight the importance of meeting people where they are. By going directly into communities rather than relying solely on institutional or clinic-based access points, we built trust with individuals who might otherwise face barriers to care. This approach expanded options for engagement and participation.

Trust emerged as a critical driver of outcomes. When people felt seen, respected, and genuinely cared for, they were more likely to engage consistently, ask questions, and explore additional support options. This relational foundation created a positive feedback loop: trust fostered openness, openness led to deeper engagement, engagement strengthened wellbeing, and improved wellbeing further reinforced trust.

A Model for Equitable, Accessible Care

By prioritizing presence, accessibility, and relationship-building, our model supports more equitable and effective care delivery. These findings underscore the value of community-centered approaches that honor lived experience, expand choice, and empower individuals to participate actively in their own healing.